Berwick’s Matthew Buntine was today awarded the Ben Mitchell Medal following a European tour with the AIS-AFL Academy squad.
Matthew, 17, is one of 30 of the best young footballers in the country involved in the 12-month AIS-AFL Academy program.
The Ben Mitchell Medal winner is the highest award given to a member of the AIS-AFL Academy squad and is voted by the squad members to the player whose personal qualities on and off the field are rated the highest.
Named in memory of a former AIS squad member who tragically lost his life in a car accident on his way to training in 2002, the medal is awarded to a player who shows exceptional personal qualities.
Matthew plays halfback and in the midfield for the Dandenong Stingrays and the Berwick Football Club.
AIS-AFL high performance coach Michael O’Loughlin said Buntine, who is eligible to be selected as a priority selection by Team GWS, is an outstanding player who has a promising future ahead at an elite level.
"He was consistently one of the best players on the field in the three games that team played, showing intelligence not only on the field but off the field as well," O’Loughlin said.
“He is a very talented footballer and his peers have made a great choice in selecting him for the Ben Mitchell Award.”
Previous winners include: Garry Moss (Hawthorn), David Myers (Essendon), Jack Grimes (Melbourne), Jack Ziebell (North Melbourne) and Josh Toy (Gold Coast), Tim Gold (Greater Western Sydney).
Buntine said he is honoured to be among the group of previous winners.
“It means a lot to me to win this award. It’s about showing good leadership and having a diligent approach on and off the field,” Buntine said.
“I’m excited about what lies ahead and I’m going to work as hard as I can this year in the hope to be drafted.
Buntine was presented the Ben Mitchell Medal by AIS-AFL mentor Tom Harley, at a luncheon at Etihad Stadium today.
The squad was in Europefrom April 16 until April 29 played three matches over a two week period. The first was against the Geelong Reserves at the MCG on Friday April 15 in a curtain-raiser to the Richmond v Collingwood match. The was second against the European Legion in London and the final match against the Bendigo Bombers at Windy Hill on April 30.
During the European tour the squad trained at the new AIS training facilities in Varese, Italy and attending the ANZAC Day dawn service at ANZAC Cove in Turkey.
Last Modified on 15/07/2011 17:39